At 15, the London-born David Bailey was jazz mad and Picasso loving but, being a dyslexic cockney, was booted out of school. Escape from gritty East London seemed unlikely until he picked up a Rolleiflex during his stint in the National Service. Three years later, in 1960, he was under contract at British Vogue.
Prodigiously talented, Bailey was also wildly charismatic and uncommonly pretty, a high-octane amalgam that no doubt fueled his meteoric rise. Soon, he was chronicling, and surfing, the cultural tsunami that transformed London in the Swinging Sixties, when young creatives from music, fashion, advertising, theater, film, TV and journalism toppled the British establishment to become the new royalty.
This was the moment when the seeds of celebrity culture were sown. Bailey snapped all these revolutionary aristos: John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Michael Caine, Tom Stoppard and David Hockney. Each and every one looks impossibly dewy and fresh and brims with an entirely modern derring-do.
So, too, do “the beautiful birds,” as Bailey called the alluring models and actresses who defined that decade: the exquisite Jean “Shrimp” Shrimpton, Twiggy, Penelope Tree, Brigitte Bardot, Jeanne Moreau, Catherine Deneuve. A number of them became his lovers, Deneuve his wife (he’s had four), for a time.
It was a wild ride for an East End lad and literally the stuff of movies. Bailey was the inspiration for the prowling fashion photographer Thomas, played by pretty boy David Hemmings, in one of the iconic films of that era, Antonioni’s Blowup.
But despite his playboy persona and lucrative work in fashion advertising, Bailey has always possessed real psychological depth and artistic ambition. He can snap like few others. His closest peer in spontaneity, insight and cool was Richard Avedon. Both preferred a white backdrop, strong lighting and a tight focus to capture that rare telling moment.
Someone shot with eyes shut is not an accident with Bailey but a revelation. To this day, he can’t explain how he works his magic, although he does liken it to shamanic conjuring. He makes no secret that he spends most of his time gabbing with his subject — he’s curious about everyone. Sometimes, the chatter is a seduction; occasionally, it becomes good-naturedly pugilistic. And then, in mere moments, the individual is sized and seized by his camera.
Browse David Bailey's revolutionary portraiture and fashion photography on 1stDibs.
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Rolling Stones [Avebury Hill]
By David Bailey
Located in London, GB
David Bailey Rolling Stones [Avebury Hill], 1968 Archival Inkjet on paper Signed by the artist, on verso Image: 50.8 x 74.92 cm Sheet: 58.4 x 82.53 cm Edition of 10
Archival Ink, Archival Pigment
Rolling Stones Colour Out of Our Heads
By David Bailey
Located in London, GB
David Bailey Rolling Stones Colour Out of Our Heads, 1968 Archival Inkjet on paper Signed by the artist, on verso Image: 50.8 x 50.8 cm Sheet: 58...
Archival Ink, Archival Pigment
$27,523
Dr Dre
By David Bailey
Located in London, GB
David Bailey Dr Dre, 2001 Archival Inkjet on paper Image: 50.8 x 63.58 cm Sheet: 58.4 x 71.2 cm Edition of 10
Archival Ink, Archival Pigment
David Bowie
By David Bailey
Located in London, GB
Archival Inkjet on paper Signed by the artist, on verso Image: 50.8 x 50.8 cm Sheet: 58.4 x 58.4 cm Framed: 66.5 x 66.5 x 4 cm Edition of 10
Archival Ink, Archival Pigment
Mick Jagger Goats Head Soup Album Art Version
By David Bailey
Located in London, GB
David Bailey Mick Jagger Goats Head Soup Album Art Version, 1973 Archival Inkjet on paper Signed by the artist, on verso Image: 101 x 148 cm Sheet: 111 x 158 cm Edition of 10 + 2 AP
Archival Ink, Archival Pigment
Kansas Bowling
By Tao Ruspoli
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
'Kansas Bowling' - 2018 Edition of 10, 20x30cm, printed on Velvet Watercolor, 310gsm, Bright White, Acid Free, Signature label and Certificate. About Tao Ruspoli (born 7 Novembe...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment
Frank Sinatra - Let me see...Anyone here play the harp?
Located in Chicago, IL
Frank Sinatra during a break from recording at Studio A at Capitol Records. Approximate Date: 1956-1957. Capitol Photo Archives Archival digital print. Printed on 100% Cotton Rag...
Rag Paper, Archival Ink, Archival Pigment
Elissa
By Tao Ruspoli
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
'Elissa' (Bombay Beach) Edition 1/10, 20x30cm, 2017, printed on Velvet Watercolor, 310gsm, Bright White, Acid Free, Signature label and Certificate. About Tao Ruspoli (born 7 Novemb...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment
$402
H 9.45 in W 7.88 in D 0.04 in
Untitled (Dwell Series) - Contemporary, Woman, Polaroid, Interior, 21st Century
By Lisa Toboz
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Untittled from the Dwell Series, 2017, Edition 1/10 plus 2 Artist Proof, 24x20cm, Digital Print based on a Polaroid photograph on Hahnemühle photo rag paper, not mounted. Signature ...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment, Polaroid
$402
H 7.88 in W 11.82 in D 0.04 in
Susanna (Bombay Beach) - Contemporary, 21st Century, Photography, Color
By Tao Ruspoli
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
'Susanna' (Bombay Beach) Edition 1/10, 30x20cm, 2018, printed on Velvet Watercolor, 310gsm, Bright White, Acid Free, Signature label and Certificate. Not mounted. About Tao Ruspo...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment
Leila and Mika
By Tao Ruspoli
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Leila and Mika' - 2017 Edition of 10, 20x30cm, printed on Velvet Watercolor, 310gsm, Bright White, Acid Free, Signature label and Certificate. not mounted Tao Ruspoli (born 7 No...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment
$402
H 7.88 in W 12.21 in D 0.04 in
Chloe (Blue Journal Series) - Contemporary, Analog, Photograph, Figurative
By Cristina Fontsare
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Chloe (Blue Journal Series) (2016) 20x31 cm, Edition of 10 plus 2 Artist Proofs. Film Photography printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta (not mounted) Signed on back with Certifica...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment
$402
H 7.88 in W 12.21 in D 0.04 in
Blue (Blue Journal Series) - Contemporary, Analog, Photograph, Figurative
By Cristina Fontsare
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Blue (Blue Journal Series) (2016) 20x31 cm, Edition of 10 plus 2 Artist Proofs. Film Photography printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta (not mounted) Signed on back with Certificat...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment
Where Are We Heading? (Olivia Wilde)
By Tao Ruspoli
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Tao Ruspoli (born November 7, 1975) is an Italian-American filmmaker, photographer, and musician. Background Tao is the second son of Prince Alessandro Ruspoli, 9th Prince of Cervet...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment
$402
H 7.88 in W 12.21 in D 0.04 in
Chloe (Blue Journal Series) - Contemporary, Analog, Photograph, Figurative
By Cristina Fontsare
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Gaelle, Gabriela and India (Blue Journal Series) (2016) 20x31 cm, Edition of 10 plus 2 Artist Proofs. Film Photography printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta (not mounted) Signed o...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment
Back in the Desert
By Tao Ruspoli
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
'Back in the Desert' Edition 1/10, 20x20cm, 2018, printed on Velvet Watercolor, 310gsm, No OBAs, Bright White, Acid Free, Signature label and Certificate. About Tao Ruspoli (born 7 ...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment
$750
H 18.9 in W 18.51 in D 0.04 in
Madonna (Burned) - Polaroid, Contemporary, 21st Century, Portrait
By Stefanie Schneider
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Madonna (Burned) - 1999 48x47cm, Edition of 10 plus 2 Artist Proofs. Archival C-Print, based on the original Polaroid. Signature label and Certificate. Artist Inventory No 334. ...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment, Polaroid
$402
H 7.88 in W 9.45 in D 0.04 in
Untitled, from the Dwell series - Self-Portrait, Contemporary, Polaroid, 21st
By Lisa Toboz
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Untitled, from the Dwell series - Self-Portrait, 2018, Edition 1/10 plus 2 Artist Proof, 20x24cm. Digital C-Print based on a mixed-media collage of an original Polaroid and glitter ...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment, Polaroid
$402
H 9.45 in W 7.88 in D 0.04 in
Untitled (Dwell Series) - Contemporary, Woman, Polaroid, Interior, 21st Century
By Lisa Toboz
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
Untitled from the Dwell Series, 2018, Edition 1/10 plus 2 Artist Proof, 24x20cm, Digital Print based on a Polaroid photograph on Hahnemühle photo rag paper, not mounted. Signature l...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment, Polaroid
$402
H 9.45 in W 7.88 in D 0.04 in
Self-portrait at the Green Wall - Contemporary, Woman, Polaroid, 21st Century
By Lisa Toboz
Located in Morongo Valley, CA
'Self-portrait at the Green Wall' from the Dwell Series 2017, Edition 1/10 plus 2 Artist Proof, 24x20cm. Digital Print based on a Polaroid photograph on Hahnemühle photo rag paper, n...
Archival Ink, Archival Paper, Color, Archival Pigment, Polaroid